NEW FLEX: “I DID MY OWN RESEARCH” AND FOUND WHAT?

A new flex is always an interesting surprise, especially when it surprises the one flexing.

“Don’t learn to type or you’ll end up being a clerk” turned into a flex of, “I can type one hundred word a minute.”

The brawny movers and shakers lost some mojo to the pencil-necked geeks, so they did one of two things: made fun, or learned to type.

Being a keyboard master is new flex? Yes, it is, along with . . .

“I did my own research.”

When these words come out of the mouth of some man who looks like he might be able to read, I want to know more.

Do I want to know how fast he can type?

No, but I hope he can communicate well enough to do his own research and show his findings.

Isn’t that the point of doing any research? Finding something worthy enough to share?

The Tricky Part

The tricky part is accepting that few, if any, care about your research.

Nobel Prizes go out every year to researchers no one knows outside their small circle.

I’ve never met a Nobel Prize winner, but if I do it will become a flex.

People ‘doing their own research’ are different than Nobel winners.

So are their results.

I do research every day to keep current, at least to keep a current blog.

My flex is that this post will go out to at least 30 countries around the world and, on average, 25 states across America.

I’ve got no control over any reader’s reaction except to work at not being boring.

Toward the goal of not boring you half to death I also avoid throwing crap on a wall to see what sticks. The people doing that are not very good at cleaning up afterwards.

Call it a messy proposition.

Flex On What You Know

The grandpa flex is always good. I’d include my own but for the parents.

To make up for my digital online deficit I keep the baby next to me in real life.

The family flex avoiding unknown places that collect data for the sake of collecting data.

I listen to my adult children on this one.

It turns out aging improves listening, or at least emphasizes the need to listen better.

“Take a left at the next street. NO, the other left.”

“Does your outfit make you look fat? Is that the question?”

“Yes, I heard what you said, I just can’t believe you’re saying it.”

Listen to friends.

Listen to partners.

Listen to the pulse of current events.

I did my own research on ‘how to listen’ with an open heart.

There was some unexpected flexing going on.

Remember there is life to be lived outside of our usual bubble, and living it means carrying important things along the way.

Bring Along A Bullshit Detector

You’ll need one in case you run into a convincing argument about presidential elections, Jan 6, and insider help from squirrelly House members.

I feel confident they will all have dues to pay.

I’m also confident in knowing the Covid Vaccine is in my best interest and in the best interest of those around me. I wear a mask whenever I’m face to face with baby.

So should Ed Begely, Jr, but that’s his call.

There is a heaven on earth with the innocent eyes of baby that ask, “Who are you again?” before the recognition sets in.

It’s in the faces of concerned citizens on TV asking for help.

Where it’s not is on the overly dramatic faces twisted up in practiced anger for a television camera night after night.

The hate and fear from the screen seeps into people who act in anger that is not practiced.

They listened, flexed around, and found out. They are still finding out.

“Definitely not going to jail,” Ryan tweeted at the time. “Sorry I have blonde hair white skin a great job a great future and I’m not going to jail. Sorry to rain on your hater parade. I did nothing wrong.”

This woman did her own research, came to her own conclusions, then learned a judge did their own research too, legal research on what’s right and what’s wrong.

We have the same power, my friends. For a refresher, it’s wrong to intentionally hurt people, it’s wrong to ignore the hurt people, and it’s wrong to think there are no consequences.

Feel the flex.